Data processing method, program, and information processor

ABSTRACT

In a data processing system in which image data representing a form or the like is generated and transmitted via a network, selection is made as to whether data necessary for generating image data or generated image data is stored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a data processing system, a dataprocessing method, an information processor and a program for preparingimage data representing a form or the like and transmitting the imagedata via a network.

[0003] 2. Related Background Art

[0004] In recent years, with the rapid development of the Internet andthe increase of Web servers, schemes to replace conventional businessoperation processing with Web-based processing have been advanced.Business operation processing using a Web browser (hereinafter referredto simply as “browser”) capable of display and input of information andsimply installed on a personal computer connected to a network has foundwide use.

[0005] Web servers exist on networks enabling business operations usingbrowsers. Information is exchanged between a client Web browser and aWeb server. That is, a Web server receives information input through abrowser, processes the information therein, and transmits the processedinformation to the browser, and the browser displays the processedinformation. A business operation is performed by a procedure in whichsuch a process is executed a certain number of times and the results ofthe process are obtained.

[0006] In execution of business operations through a Web browser, thereis a problem with printing processing necessary for business operations.In particular, in the case of printing of a form or the like through abrowser, it is not possible to correctly perform printing in accordancewith the format. Ordinary browsers have printing functions but theprinting functions of the browsers are intended to make a printer printa hard copy of an image displayed on the browser. Such a printing methodhas a pagination problem in the case of printing of an image exceeding aprint sheet size, a plurality of pages, etc., and does not ensuredesired printing results.

[0007] On the other hand, a printing processing system has already beenproposed in which a server prepares print data according to aninstruction from a browser and sends this data to a client.

[0008]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a networkprinting system, which is a conventional printing processing system. Aclient has an information processor 101 such as a personal computer(PC). A browser 102 (data input/output section) inputs data from aserver and outputs data to the server. A print output section 103converts data from the browser 102 into standard print data according toan instruction from the browser 102. A printing machine (printer) 104 isconnected to the client.

[0009] A network 105 connects servers and clients. The form of thisnetwork is not limited to a particular kind if it is compatible withcommunication procedures in Web environments. For example, the networkis a local area network (LAN), the Internet, or a wireless network.

[0010] A Web server 106 is formed by an information processor. A networkcommunication control section 107 functions mainly as the Web server106. A form template storage section 108 stores form templates each ofwhich is used when printing of a form is performed.

[0011] A data storage section 109 is a database or the like. Data forbusiness operations are stored in the data storage section 109. A dataprocessing section 110 stores an application logic according to eachbusiness operation. An image forming section 111 prepares a form imagedata in accordance with a predetermined style. Form image data may beeither of raster image data and vector image data. A print outputsection 112 converts data (form image data) prepared by the imageforming section 111 into a format such that the printer can output thedata. The print output section 112 is a unit ordinarily called “printerdriver”. The printer is indicated by 113.

[0012] Processing in the network printing system having theabove-described configuration will be described with respect to a casewhere a user inputs a printing instruction to the browser. Ordinarily,the data processing section 110 on the server performs processing forreceiving data from the browser 102, analyzing the received data and, ifnecessary, searching data in the data storage section 109 according tothe received data, and sending back a search result to the browser 102.When the browser functions, buttons are ordinarily displayed on thebrowser 102. When a user of the browser 102 performs an operation suchas clicking of a button on the browser 102, the browser 102 makes arequest of the server 106 to perform certain processing, and the server106 performs this processing and sends back a processing result to thebrowser 102. In this printing processing system, a printing button isprovided in an image display area of the browser 102.

[0013]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a graphical image for businessoperation processing displayed by the browser. A window 201 of thebrowser is displayed on a monitor of the PC, for example. A title isindicated in an area 202. Commands provided in the browser 102 areindicated in areas 203 and 204. A command for printing of the contentsof a display on the browser is ordinary provided in the areas 203 or204. When a user selects the printing command indicated in the area 203or 204, the browser generates print data representing a hard copy of theimage displayed in the window 201, and makes the printer print the imagebased on this print data.

[0014] A text field 205 for input/output of the address of a Web serverwith which a connection is to be established is provided. Field 206 and207 are provided in which a user makes a selection. A display button 208is provided. When the display button 208 is clicked, contents selectedin the fields 206 and 207 are transmitted to the server side and aresponse from the server 106 is awaited.

[0015] By clicking the display button 208, an image 209 of a form isdisplayed on the basis of a form name selected in the field 206 and aname of a person selected in the field 207. Simultaneously, a printingbutton 210 is displayed. The image shown in FIG. 8 represents an exampleof a personal affairs system. Data on the state of service done in thepresent month by a person selected in the field 207 is displayed as amonthly form.

[0016] The browser receives hypertext markup language (HTML) data fordisplaying the fields 206 and 207 and the display button 208 from theserver, and displays the fields 206 and 207, the display button 208,etc., on the basis of the received HTML data. Also, the browser receivesHTML data for displaying the form image 209 and the printing button 210from the server, and displays the form image 209 and the printing button210 on the basis of the received HTML data.

[0017] When the printing button 210 is clicked, the browser makes arequest of the server to send form image data, and delivers to the printoutput section 102 the form image data transmitted from the server.

[0018] Thus, in the above-described proposed printing processing system,the server generates form image data with respect to any of individualinstructions without fail and successively returns the image data to theclient.

[0019] The applicant of the present invention has proposed a printingprocessing system arranged to improve the efficiency of this processingin such a manner that form image data once generated by a server istemporarily stored in the server, and a client obtains the image data atan arbitrary time. In this system, data on the server is stored for acertain period of time.

[0020] The above-described printing processing systems have a problemdescribed below. That is, if concentration of printing instructions in acertain time period occurs to increase the number of data items storedin the, server, i.e., the total data size, the data may, at the worst,overflow the capacity of the storage area of the disk or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of thepresent invention is to provide a printing processing system, a printingprocessing method, a program and a storage medium designed to reduce thechance of data overflowing the capacity of a storage area when a serverstores data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a networkprinting system;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a storage selection processingprocedure;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a form character data management table;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a form character data storageprocessing procedure;

[0026]FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of form character data;

[0027]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing fortransmitting form image data;

[0028]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of aconventional network printing system;

[0029]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image for business operationprocessing displayed by a browser;

[0030]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a storage selection processingprocedure;

[0031]FIG. 10 is a form character data management table; and

[0032]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing fordeleting form image data and leaving only form character data as anobjet to be stored.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] A printing processing system, a printing processing method, aprogram and a storage medium which represent an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of anetwork printing system which is a printing processing system in theembodiment. Reference characters 301 to 313 indicate the same componentsas those indicated by characters 101 to 113 in FIG. 7. A client has aninformation processor 301 such as a PC. That is, a browser 302 (datainput/output section) inputs data from a server and outputs data to theserver. A print output section 303 converts data from the browser 302into standard print data according to an instruction from the browser302. A printing machine (printer) 304 is connected to the client.

[0034] A network 305 connects servers and clients. The form of thisnetwork is not limited to a particular kind if it is compatible withcommunication procedures in Web environments. For example, the networkis a LAN, the Internet, or a wireless network.

[0035] A Web server 306 is formed by an information processor. A networkcommunication control section 307 functions mainly as the Web server306. A form template storage section 308 stores form templates each ofwhich is used when printing of a form is performed.

[0036] A data storage section 309 is a database or the like. Data forbusiness operations are stored in the data storage section 309. A dataprocessing section 310 stores an application logic according to eachbusiness operation. An image forming section 311 prepares a form imagedata in accordance with a predetermined style. Form image data may beeither of raster image data and vector image data. A print outputsection 312 converts data (form image data) prepared by the imageforming section 311 into a format such that the printer can output thedata. The print output section 312 is a unit ordinarily called “printerdriver”. The printer is indicated by 313.

[0037] A data management section 314 is newly added as a feature of thisembodiment of the present invention. The data management section 314 hasthe functions of performing processing for selectively and effectivelystoring form image data and form character data dynamically generated,reconstructing form character data, and making a request of the imageforming section 311 to generate form image data.

[0038] In this embodiment, the data processing section 310, the datamanagement section 314 and the image forming section 311 are realized bya program executed by a CPU in the Web server.

[0039] A process in which the server 306 selects storage of formcharacter data or storage of form image data in a printing processingsystem having the above-described configuration will next be described.FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing storage selection processing procedure.FIG. 3 shows a management table showing the contents of character datastored at a certain time. This table is held in a predetermined storagearea in the Web server 306.

[0040] First, a request from a client 301 is accepted and a numbernecessary for acquisition of form image data is issued as a request IDand stored (step S1). In the case shown in FIG. 3, request IDs “1 to 5”are stored (see section 701 of FIG. 3). Then the size ss of form imagedata generated is computed and recorded (step S2).

[0041] Determination is made as to whether or not the size ss of theform image data obtained in step S2 is larger than a value SS externallygiven (step S3). This value SS is set to such a value that the capacityof a storage area of the Web server 306 does not overflow with data. Ifthe size ss of the generated form image data is larger, basic formcharacter data is stored (step S4), while the generated form image datais deleted (step S5). At this time, a value “C” which denotes that thetype of data stored is form character data is stored in the table (seesection 702 of FIG. 3). Storage of this form character data is asdescribed below in detail.

[0042] If it is determined in step S3 that the value SS externally givenis equal to or larger than the size ss, the form image data is stored(step S6). At this time, a value “I” which denotes that the type of datastored is form image data is stored in the table (see section 702 ofFIG. 3). Characters or sequences of characters indicating the type ofdata are not limited to “C” and “I” and may be arbitrarily selected.

[0043] A process in which when the server 306 stores form character datadynamically generated, it stores only the difference of the generatedcharacter data from character data already stored will next bedescribed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a basic form character datastorage processing procedure in step S4.

[0044] A request is first accepted (step S11) and determination is madeas to whether or not this processing is first (first-time) processing(step S12). In the case of first processing, character data itself (seesection 705 of FIG. 3) and a character data ID=1 (see section 703 ofFIG. 3) are stored in the table of FIG. 3 (step S13).

[0045] If it is determined in step S12 that the present processing issecond (second-time) processing or processing subsequent to the secondprocessing, the difference from each of the groups of character dataalready stored is extracted (step S14), one of the plurality of storedgroups of character data corresponding to the smallest difference isselected, and the ID of the selected group of character data (seesection 704 of FIG. 3) and the contents of the difference (see section705 of FIG. 3) are recorded in the table of FIG. 3 (step S15).

[0046]FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of form character data. InFIG. 5, a character data ID and stored characters are shown with respectto each group of form character data. It is assumed here that characterdata ID=3, for example, is presently recorded in the table of FIG. 3,and that the next character data (character data with ID=4 shown in FIG.5) is input. In this case, it is determined in step S14 that the groupof character data with ID=1 in the groups of character data with IDs=1to 3 is the one corresponding to the smallest difference. Then, in stepS15, ID=1 is stored in section 704 in correspondence with character ID=4and the difference “<+>Ball” from this character data is stored insection 705. This data “<+>Ball” represents “plus difference “Book” fromthe character data with ID=1”. In FIG. 3, <+> denotes a plus differenceand <−> denotes a minus difference. The form character data shown inFIG. 5 is stored as shown in FIG. 3.

[0047] A process in which after the server 306 has received a form imagedata acquisition request from the client 302, it transmits form imagedata to the client. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure ofprocessing performed by the server 306 to transmit form image data tothe client 302.

[0048] When an image data acquisition request from the client 302,accompanied by a request ID, is accepted, the request ID designated bythe acquisition request is obtained (step S21). Determination is thenmade as to whether the corresponding stored data is character data orimage data (step S22). This determination is made according to whetherthe value in the section “data type” of the column corresponding to theobtained request ID is “C” or “I”, as described above.

[0049] If it is determined that the stored data is character data, thecharacter data ID is obtained from the designated request ID (step S23).Determination is made as to whether the obtained character data ID is 1(step S24). If the character data ID is not 1, the data stored in thesections 704 and 705 of FIG. 3 are obtained for reconstruction of thecharacter data (step S25) to reconstruct the character data (step S26).

[0050] For example, if the character with the ID=3 in FIG. 5 isreconstructed, the value in the section 703 corresponding to thecharacter data ID=3 is read. It is thereby found that the character dataID of the character data which is the sum of the required data and thedifference is 2. Further, it can be understood that the sum of thecharacter data with ID=2 and the difference corresponds to the characterdata with ID=1. That is, the character data “Pencil, Desk, Table” withID=2 is reconstructed by removing “Book” from the character data “Book,Pencil, Desk, Table” with ID=1. Subsequently, the character data “Desk,Table” with ID=3 is reconstructed by removing “Pencil” from thecharacter data “Pencil, Desk, Table” with ID=2.

[0051] If it is determined in step S24 that the ID is 1, the characterdata is obtained simply from the table of FIG. 3 (step S27).

[0052] The character data reconstructed in step S26 or the characterdata obtained in step S27 is sent to the image forming section 311 (stepS28). The image forming section 311 generates form image data on thebasis of the form character data sent to it. The form image datagenerated by the image forming section 311 is then obtained (step S29).The obtained form image data is transmitted to the client thattransmitted the form image data acquisition request. The process thenreturns to processing in step S21.

[0053] If it is determined in step S22 that the data type is image data(“I”), processing for simply obtaining the stored form image data (stepS30) and the obtained form image data is transmitted to the client thattransmitted the form image data acquisition request. The process thenreturns to processing in step S21.

[0054] In step S6 of FIG. 2, only the generated form image data isstored. However, if the capacity of the storage area is sufficientlylarge, both the generated form image data and form character data may bestored in such a manner that the form image data is deleted according toa reduction in available storage area and, finally, only the formcharacter data is stored.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 9, a step S31 is added after step S6 in FIG. 2.Accordingly, while the generated form image data is stored, formcharacter data necessary for generating the form image data is alsostored. In step S6, the size of form image data (see section 901 of FIG.10) is stored in a table shown in FIG. 10. Step S31 is equivalent tostep S4.

[0056]FIG. 10 shows a management table formed by processing shown inFIG. 9. The management table shown in FIG. 10 has a section 901 inaddition to those shown in the management table shown in FIG. 3. Also,since form character data corresponding to a request ID=5 is stored,data is stored in sections 703, 704, and 705 in correspondence with thecolumn of request ID=5.

[0057] A process in which the server 306 deletes form image data toleave only form character data as a stored object will be described withreference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure ofprocessing for deleting from image data and leaving only form characterdata as a stored object.

[0058] In this process, the remaining capacity of the storage area forstoring data is checked in a fixed time interval and the remainingcapacity and a set value is compared with each other (S41). If it isdetermined from the comparison that the remaining capacity is largerthan the set value, a wait is made for passage of a certain period oftime (step S44).

[0059] If the remaining capacity is equal to or smaller than the setvalue, one of the stored groups of image data smallest in data size isselected and the selected image data is deleted (step S42). In theportion of the request ID column corresponding to the deleted imagedata, the data type value is changed from “I” to “C” and the data sizevalue is erased (step S43).

[0060] The time required to regenerate form image data smaller in datasize is supposed to be shorter. Therefore, image data smaller in datasize is deleted with precedence. However, form image data to be deletedmay be selected on the basis of a factor other than the data size.

[0061] In this embodiment, as described above, the storage area used inthe Web server 306 can be limited in such a manner that when the client301 sends a form image data acquisition request to the Web server 306,the Web server 306 minimizes the size of data to be stored before itstores the data. The chance of data overflowing the capacity of thestorage area in the Web server can be reduced in this manner and usersor system administrators can be provided with a frustration-free imageforming environment.

[0062] While the embodiment of the present invention is as describedabove, the present invention is not limited to the described embodimentand can be applied to any arrangement if the functions included inclaims or the functions of the arrangement of the embodiment can beperformed.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, if it is determined in stepS12 that the present processing is the second processing or processingsubsequent to the second processing, a group of character data havingthe smallest difference from those already stored is selected and thecontents of the difference is stored in step S15. However, it is notnecessarily required that data corresponding to the smallest differencebe recorded. For example, the contents of the difference from particularprint data may be recorded.

[0064] In a case where the present invention is attained by supplying asystem or an apparatus with program codes of software for realizing theabove-described functions of the embodiment, the program codesthemselves realize the novel functions of the present invention and arecording medium on which the program is recorded constitutes thepresent invention.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, the program codes shown in theflowchart of FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 9, or 11 are stored on a ROM, i.e., astorage medium. Any storage medium other than ROM may be used to supplythe program codes. For example, a flexible hard disk, a hard disk, acompact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), CD-R, a digital versatile disk,a magnetic tape, or a nonvolatile memory card may be used.

[0066] According to the present invention, when image data is stored ina server, the chance of the data overflowing the capacity of the storagearea can be reduced to provide users or system administrators with afrustration-free image forming environment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data processing method carried out to transmitimage data from a first information processor capable of generatingimage data to a second information processor, said method comprising: aselection step of selecting storage of data necessary for generatingimage data or storage of generated image data; a first generation stepof generating image data from data necessary for generating the imagedata according to a generation request from the second informationprocessor to the first information processor if storage of generatedimage data is selected in said selection step; a second generation stepof generating image data from data necessary for generating the imagedata according to an acquisition request from the second informationprocessor to the first information processor if storage of datanecessary for generation of image data is selected in said selectionstep; and a transmission step of transmitting the image data generatedin said first or second generation step from the first informationprocessor to the second information processor according to theacquisition request from the second information processor to the firstinformation processor.
 2. The data processing method according to claim1, further comprising a size computation step of computing the data sizeof the generated image data, wherein, in said selection step, storage ofthe data necessary for generating the image data or storage of thegenerated image data is selected according to the data size computed insaid size computation step.
 3. The data processing method according toclaim 1, further comprising a storage step of storing data correspondingto a difference from data already stored in the case of storing the datanecessary for generating the image data.
 4. The data processing methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: an issue step of issuingidentification information necessary for obtaining the image dataaccording to said generation request; and a storage step of storing theidentification information issued in said issue step and the datanecessary for generating the image data while relating theidentification information and the data necessary for generating theimage data to each other, wherein, in said second generation step, theimage data is generated on the basis of the data necessary forgenerating the image data, which data is stored by being related to theidentification information designated by the acquisition request, andwherein, in said transmission step, the image data corresponding to theidentification information designated by the acquisition request istransmitted.
 5. The data processing method according to claim 1, furthercomprising an issue step of issuing identification information necessaryfor obtaining the image data according to said generation request,wherein, in said selection step, storage of the data necessary forgenerating the image data or storage of the generated image data isselected according to said generation request, and wherein, in saidtransmission step, the image data corresponding to the identificationinformation designated by said acquisition request is transmitted. 6.The data processing method according to claim 1, further comprising aprinting step of performing printing on the basis of the image data,wherein the image data comprises image data representing a form, and thedata necessary for generating the image data comprises character data.7. A data processing method carried out to transmit image data from afirst information processor capable of generating image data to a secondinformation processor, said method comprising: an issue step of issuingidentification information necessary for obtaining image data accordingto a generation request of image data from the second informationprocessor to the first information processor; a selection step ofselecting storage of data necessary for generating image data or storageof generated image data according to a generation request of image datafrom the second information processor to the first informationprocessor; a storage step of storing the identification informationissued in said issue step and data type information indicating theresult of selection in said selection step while relating theidentification information and the data type information to each other;a first generation step of generating image data from data necessary forgenerating the image data according to a generation request of imagedata from the second information processor to the first informationprocessor if storage of generated image data is selected in saidselection step; a second generation step of generating image data fromdata necessary for generating the image data on the basis of data typeinformation corresponding to identification information designated by animage data acquisition request from the second information processor tothe first information processor; a transmission step of transmitting theimage data generated in said first or second generation step from thefirst information processor to the second information processoraccording to the data type information corresponding to theidentification information designated by the image data acquisitionrequest from the second information processor to the first informationprocessor; and a changing step of changing the data type informationindicating the selection of storage of the generated image data into thedata type information indicating the selection of storage of the datanecessary for generating the image data if a predetermined condition issatisfied.
 8. A program for transmitting image data from a firstinformation processor capable of generating image data to a secondinformation processor, said program enabling a computer to execute: aselection step of selecting storage of data necessary for generatingimage data or storage of generated image data; a first generation stepof generating image data from data necessary for generating the imagedata according to a generation request of image data from the secondinformation processor to the first information processor if storage ofgenerated image data is selected in said selection step; a secondgeneration step of generating image data from data necessary forgenerating the image data according to an image data acquisition requestfrom the second information processor to the first information processorif storage of data necessary for generation of image data is selected insaid selection step; and a transmission step of transmitting the imagedata generated in said first or second generation step from the firstinformation processor to the second information processor according tothe image data acquisition request from the second information processorto the first information processor.
 9. The program according to claim 8,enabling the computer to further execute a size computation step ofcomputing the data size of the generated image data, wherein, in saidselection step, storage of the data necessary for generating the imagedata or storage of the generated image data is selected according to thedata size computed in said size computation step.
 10. The programaccording to claim 8, enabling the computer to further execute: an issuestep of issuing identification information necessary for obtaining theimage data according to the generation request; and a storage step ofstoring the identification information issued in said issue step and thedata necessary for generating the image data while relating theidentification information and the data necessary for generating theimage data to each other, wherein, in said second generation step, theimage data is generated on the basis of the data necessary forgenerating the image data, which data is stored by being related to theidentification information designated by said acquisition request, andwherein, in said transmission step, the image data corresponding to theidentification information designated by said acquisition request istransmitted.
 11. The program according to claim 8, enabling the computerto further execute an issue step of issuing identification informationnecessary for obtaining the image data according to said generationrequest, wherein, in said selection step, storage of the data necessaryfor generating the image data or storage of the generated image data isselected according to the generation request, and wherein, in saidtransmission step, the image data corresponding to the identificationinformation designated by the acquisition request is transmitted.
 12. Aprogram for transmitting image data from a first information processorcapable of generating image data to a second information processor, saidprogram enabling a computer to execute: an issue step of issuingidentification information necessary for obtaining image data accordingto a generation request of image data from the second informationprocessor to the first information processor; a selection step ofselecting storage of data necessary for generating image data or storageof generated image data according to a generation request of image datafrom the second information processor to the first informationprocessor; a storage step of storing the identification informationissued in said issue step and data type information indicating theresult of selection in said selection step while relating theidentification information and the data type information to each other;a first generation step of generating image data from data necessary forgenerating the image data according to a generation request of imagedata from the second information processor to the first informationprocessor if storage of generated image data is selected in saidselection step; a second generation step of generating image data fromdata necessary for generating the image data on the basis of data typeinformation corresponding to identification information designated by animage data acquisition request from the second information processor tothe first information processor; a transmission step of transmitting theimage data generated in said first or second generation step from thefirst information processor to the second information processoraccording to the data type information corresponding to theidentification information designated by the image data acquisitionrequest from the second information processor to the first informationprocessor; and a changing step of changing the data type informationindicating the selection of storage of the generated image data into thedata type information indicating the selection of storage of the datanecessary for generating the image data if a predetermined condition issatisfied.
 13. An information processor which generates image data andtransmits the image data to an external information processor, saidinformation processor comprising: selection means of selecting storageof data necessary for generating image data or storage of generatedimage data; first generation means of generating image data from datanecessary for generating the image data according to a generationrequest of image data from the external information processor if storageof generated image data is selected by said selection means; secondgeneration means of generating image data from data necessary forgenerating the image data according to an image data acquisition requestfrom the external information processor if storage of data necessary forgeneration of image data is selected by said selection means; andtransmission means of transmitting the image data generated by saidfirst or second generation means to the external information processoraccording to the image data acquisition request from the externalinformation processor.
 14. An information processor which generatesimage data and transmits the image data to an external informationprocessor, said information processor comprising: issue means of issuingidentification information necessary for obtaining image data accordingto a generation request of image data from the external informationprocessor; selection means of selecting storage of data necessary forgenerating image data or storage of generated image data according to ageneration request of image data from the external informationprocessor; storage means of storing the identification informationissued by said issue means and data type information indicating theresult of selection made by said selection means while relating theidentification information and the data type information to each other;first generation means of generating image data from data necessary forgenerating the image data according to a generation request of imagedata from the external information processor to the first informationprocessor if storage of generated image data is selected by saidselection means; external generation means of generating image data fromdata necessary for generating the image data on the basis of data typeinformation corresponding to identification information designated by animage data acquisition request from the external information processorto the first information processor; transmission means of transmittingthe image data generated by said first or second generation means fromthe first information processor to the external information processoraccording to the data type information corresponding to theidentification information designated by the image data acquisitionrequest from the external information processor to the first informationprocessor; and changing means of changing the data type informationindicating the selection of storage of the generated image data into thedata type information indicating the selection of storage of the datanecessary for generating the image data if a predetermined condition issatisfied.